Regional

10:27 am

Mon July 26, 2010

New Mexico Jobless Benefits Extended

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson has signed an agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to accept a federal extension for unemployment insurance benefits.

The agreement extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008 and will make more benefits available to eligible New Mexico unemployment insurance claimants.

Emergency unemployment compensation benefits will be available for those people who have exhausted regular unemployment compensation under state law. Those who are potentially eligible will receive a letter from the state.

Richardson says the benefits will put food on the table and allow thousands of out-of-work New Mexicans to pay their rent.